Help with Cooling!! Argh!

[RedDog75]

OK... so maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but I need a little help/some suggestions as to what I should be looking to get to lower my case and CPU temps. Here's what I have (newly built):

Abit IS7 Mobo
Intel P4 2.6Ghz (running default) 800Mhz FSB
Retail Box (Stock) Cooling Fan CPU
Stock 80mm standard Case Fan (Front Intake) 3125rpm (REALLY LOUD... ugh)
400W PS exhaust fan 2345rpm
Standard chipset fan... bla bla bla...

SpeedFan and Sandra both have the CPU running btw 54C (idle) and 60C (load) and case temp is maintaining around 50C. Now, I haven't yet started overclocking, but I just know that I'm going to run into trouble since these temps already seem high. I definitely think I'm going to get rid of that stock thermal tape and put some thermal grease on the CPU, but I doubt that it will help more than a few degrees. Case isn't easily maneuverable, the PS is about an inch over from the CPU fan (I've got cables and PCI cards well managed and out of the way of airflow), and I may be looking at adding another fan - but at the cost of more noise???? - I was looking into those fans that exhaust from a rear expansion slot, but I'm not sure if they will do the trick. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[0roo0roo]

you need a lot more case fans. and you need even more to get away with low rpm case fans. its holesaw/dremil time. somehow i doubt your front intake isn't really restricted too.

 

[RedDog75]

You know... I was wondering about that... even though there is nothing in the way of the intake fan... it just doesn't seem to be pulling in a whole lotta air into the case. I have a feeling that I'm getting restriction from the front of the case itself - wherever the air can actually get into the case.... anyway, as far as new fans go, what positioning do you suggest for these fans (and how many fans are you talking about?). What do you think about the exhaust fan I mentioned previously? Should I be focusing more now on exhaust or intake?

 

[RedDog75]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
you need a lot more case fans. and you need even more to get away with low rpm case fans...

I forgot to add one more thing... you mentioned low rpm case fans. Should I just replace my intake fan for a higher rpm? Wouldn't that be more noise as well? What rpm would be "normal" if mine are "low"?

 

[RedDog75]

anyone care to put in some input, to someone in need? much abliged...

 

[mechBgon]

Hey, what case are you using bro? If it has any places for a rear fan, start by moving your intake fan to the rear as an exhaust fan.

If your case doesn't have a position for a rear exhaust fan then it's new-case time. An auxiliary rear exhaust fan besides the one in the PSU is pretty important anymore. One of the Antec/Chieftec clones would be hard to beat, the ones with dual 80mm exhaust ports like this one or similar.

 

[RedDog75]

shoot... no rear exhaust other than the PSU. I've got some nice vent holes though! lol - this was a cheap case that I had my 1.1Ghz Celeron in at one point. It is pretty sturdy and REAL easy to get to the mobo, but it sounds like it's going to restrict me in cooling. So, hypothetically, if I cool down the case (with more fans, or higher power fans, etc), the CPU will cool down as well?? That is, w/o upgrading the stock CPU cooling unit. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, the CPU temperature will drop in almost direct relationship to the air going into the CPU's heatsink, so case ventilation would help you out. My observation is that generally, exhaust fans will make more difference than intake fans (plus they're in a less "hearable" location).

With a case that breathes easily, like the Antec/Chieftec designs, you can use the quietest 80mm fans and still do well.

 

[RedDog75]

That's a nice lookin' case by the way! Quick question to wrap it up... what kind of cfm should I be looking at for exhaust? If I move my current stock cheapy intake fan to a rear exhaust, what kind of second fan should I be looking for for cfms? i've seen 35cfms, 42cfms... obviously the more the better, but if I wanted to save some $ at the same time, what would you suggest?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: RedDog75

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
you need a lot more case fans. and you need even more to get away with low rpm case fans...

I forgot to add one more thing... you mentioned low rpm case fans. Should I just replace my intake fan for a higher rpm? Wouldn't that be more noise as well? What rpm would be "normal" if mine are "low"?

front and side holes probably cut by you would be intakes. rear and top would be exhausts. the lower rpms you want to get away with, the more fans you need for airflow. as many as you feel comfortable with slice away mod guides for blowholes, hole saws, dremils etc are all over the net. read fans101 on side. http://www.dansdata.com/hx45fan.htm

 

[mechBgon]

I use 18cfm fans in my Antec, and it's still only about 1C-2C over room temperature inside. So I'd have to say it depends on the case that the fans are ventilating Considering what the rest of your computer is worth, maybe you should treat it & yourself to a new case too!

 

[0roo0roo]

yea, new chieftec/antec towers are only like 50 dollars for steel, 70~ for aluminum and have a load of fan mounts and good circulation. hole saws are kinda expensive.

thats why buying a cheap case screws you in the end

 

[nycdude]

Hi all,

I got a mid tower case (4x 5.25, 2x 3.5 bays) and after I put in the 2 front lower 80mm case fans, you can't seem to use the room for putting anything else in the lower portion of the case.

Is it me or am I doing something wrong????

Thoughts.

 

[huesmann]

The question you need to ask yourself is this: am I overclocking?

If the answer is no, then ask yourself this: is my computer stable?

If the answer is yes, your work is done. If no, break out the Dremel.

 

[RedDog75]

bought a new case and two intake fans (front) and moved my original fan to the back - I'm real excited about it - my idle CPU temp is hanging around 43C. It is not the lowest that I've seen on the net, but of course, I'm not using liquid cooling. Load temps hang around 55C. My idle temp has practically gone down almost to 20degrees! I'm not sure what I should really be looking at. I would appreciate some ideas about your systems. I also have a question about thermal grease though... I did purchase some of the stock stuff and tried to smooth it as best I could, but are there any suggestions on how to get a good thin layer? What is the general rule as far as how much to put on? Does it really matter that much (i.e. can I really get that much difference in temperature?) I also read somewhere that the expensive stuff doesn't always help that much. Thoughts appreciated...

 

[0roo0roo]

you spread it on with a razor blade.

 

[RedDog75]

OK... this is weird... my excitedness (if that's even a word) is dying away quickly. After trying a hand at overclocking (which didn't work - kept rebooting, unstable) my CPU temp is maintaining around 50C although case temp is around 36C and 27C (depending on which sensor you look at). What would be the cause of this? And how can I get that idle number back down to my original???? I tried putting a new layer of thermal grease on, but this hasn't helped. I've been running my room air conditioner all day, but is it possible that I will see such a variation in temp throughout the day? Should I be worried at all??

 

[RedDog75]

:bump: